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Christmas is coming!

In less than 20 days millions will celebrate with family and friends the joyous season of Christmas. Here at Never Bored Creations we do celebrate that time as the recognized holiday for the birth of the Savior, Jesus. For this reason it has meaning that lasts 24/7/365.

However, I am aware that many of my friends and fans only celebrate it as a holiday with tidings of comfort and joy. I want you to know how very much I love you, too.

I am so very thankful that God has placed each and every one of you in my world. And to show my appreciation to quill buddies and to artwork fans, I have a gift.

The New Year will find me adding my art creations to my Etsy Shop! And to say thank you to my fans, I will be sending a discount coupon out in my announcement email. Yep! A special, private discount just for my newsletter friends! So keep your eye out for my first email in January 2019 where you will receive your special e-letter discount code!

For my twirl buddies....I have a free star grid and an ornament grid for you right {here!} to help you finish up those Christmas gifts and decorations!!

Have you ever had a season in life when
one opportunity after another lead you away from your passion? That's
what the past few months have been for me.

“Few months? Really, Lisa?” says
the inner voice.

Well, okay, maybe longer than that! But
time flies when you're having fun! I've gone from wholesaling my art
to working a feasibility plan that would make Never Bored Creations a
quiling paper and supplies company.

What?! That opportunity came when I
found out the first of October that our quilling supply company, Lake
City Crafts, is closing down. (Read the full announcement here: http://www.quilling.com/blog).

Buying up equipment and supplies and
starting a small line of my own was very tempting. But the more I've
pondered it through prayer the clearer things became. Then a dear
friend and business mentor told me, “Lisa, you would be so
busy filling orders that you would miss your peeps. Your art has
always been a big part of your ministry, would there be room for that
still?” She was right.

Thank you, Father God, for connecting
me with such an amazing friend.

So where do I go from here? Back to my
business plan....back to my peeps! I have only one big art event left
for 2018, and then I have six weeks filled with holiday fun and
creating!

For my twirl buddies: We'll have to see
what new patterns I can create. What new video classes I can prepare.

AND for my art customers: Revitalize my
Etsy shop! I haven't made time to sell my art on Etsy for way too
long. And you've let me know you miss me!

So there you have it. But before I go
I want to take a moment to thank you. No matter how many times I've
floundered around, you have hung in there with me.

With summer in full swing, temperatures are rising and vacations are happening. And as a nation we celebrate the 4th of July. A date chosen for us to recognize the freedom Americans fought for from the colonial days to now. In all our flaws we still have freedoms many countries don't enjoy.

The 4th of July is an extra special time in our household. It is my husband's birthday. To hear Doug tell it, he was at least 6 years old before he figured out the entire town was not just celebrating his birthday. And this year...he hits the big 6 0!

This summer there are lots of changes here in the world of Never Bored Creations. Having spent many years in his field and half with the current company, Doug will be celebrating a new freedom.. he gets to retire!

Now don't get confused, I'm not retiring...yet. (LOL) So why changes for Never Bored Creations? Because all I have worked for these past five years will pay off. I wanted to start my own business for my freedom.

As I became passionate about sharing this wonderful world of paper filigree with everyone, I knew it would be a portable business. A lap tray for twirling paper on and a laptop for computer work and viola! I have freedom to take my business anywhere my retired husband wants to be.

Whether it's in my studio in Ste. Genevieve, working from our soon-to-be shouse on our acreage back in Springfield, Missouri, or in the cab of the truck on our way to our next travel adventure, Never Bored Creations is my freedom.

As we celebrate this 4th of July, I encourage you to think of freedoms you have every day. They may not be big like running your own portable business, but I'm sure you have many. Then rejoice in those freedoms. Be thankful for the freedoms we all have because we live in our flawed, goofy, amazing United States of America.

I am honored to announce that I have been chosen for the Early American Life Traditional Crafts Directory this year! Early American Life is focused on pre-Civil War trades. From furniture makers to paper filigree artists! Visit them on-line at EarlyAmericanLife.com. The 2018 list should be up soon.

I went through an antique quilling book filled with pictures of pieces from the 17th and 18th centuries and designed my entry.

The judges are made up of museum curators and from other historic areas. The nine judge comments I received prepared me for next year's application and some of them even boosted my confidence! I know I've worked hard for this honor; however, it is still quite humbling to know that I've made it unto the list of the best traditional craftsman in the county.

I've added my list of accomplishments since I've started quilling over on The Story page.

Well, thanks for letting me share. I've more exciting news in the works....but that, my sweet friends, will be saved for later.

A quick catch up. Louisville, Kentucky, was a real experience! Now to get ready for Powell Gardens in Kansas City, Missouri, April 28-29!

On the lighter side of things, a dear friend, Molly Smith, shared this on her blog and I had to copy! I have heard this from people who have bought my Get Your Twirl on bundles. They most often include purchasing a snowflake instruction kit I get from Lake City Crafts. Let's take a listen to Patsy Clairmont's experience....

Folks watch me demonstrate and say, "That looks easy." They always ask, "How long does it take for you to make __________?" I don't want to discourage them from trying the art on their own; however, I've been quilling for over 7 years and this is my fourth year of quilling full-time as my business. It better not take me 20 hours to do one snowflake. It better not take me more that 40 minutes or the profit disappears!

So my response, "I have somethings that take 10 minutes and others that take 30 hours....plus 7 years experience." This last comment gets them to chuckle and we can step away from the "easy" or "how long" comments!

So to those who have had Patsy's snowflake experience....I'm sorry! To those who made it through the first 20 hours of a snowflake and marched forward....Thank you.

I feel like the Energizer Bunny....she keeps rollin' and rollin' and rollin'......

My schedule is set nicely for the fall. Being a juried member of the Missouri Artisans Association/Best of Missouri Handsmost of you know I'm blessed and honored to represent the Missouri Artisans at Silver Dollar City's Fall Craftsman and Cowboy Festival held in September and October.

I'm also part of an artist co-op here in Ste. Genevieve, Rust down on Main Street. You'll find me running the shop on Fridays and during special events where I have a very nice size display. Being the extrovert I am...my Fridays at the shop is much needed time out of the studio.

I attend other small events, such as Ste Genevieve's French Festival in June and Rural Heritage Days in October.

I do demonstrations, teach in-person classes, create patterns and video on-line classes (links to which you can find here on my website).

So why has the last two months been crazy? Add to all the above, I told the Good Lord in December that I could use a couple good events in the Spring. You know the verses about asking God for the desires of your heart and if they line up with His desires....He will provide. Tah dah!!! An opening with the Missouri Artisans in their block of six artists invited to participate in the Kentucky Crafted Market.

Held the first weekend of March in Louisville, Kentucky, this isn't just any market. Hosted by the Kentucky Arts Council, it is a three day, long-running, prestigious market where the first day is open only to gift shops of all sorts looking to purchase wholesale items.

I believe you go big or go home, which means I've spent the last 2 months designing and creating a wholesale-exclusive line of necklaces! To think, you may see Never Bored Creations quilling items in gift shops all over the USA. (That's scary in many ways!)

Add to the above that the fall always depletes my available retail product....more twirlin' twirlin' twirlin'!

Because.....THEN I received an invite to a brand new event....the Missouri Life Market Fair at Powell Gardens in Kansas City the last weekend of April.

Oh.my.goodness! What? I say...What? Was I thinking!!!! I do believe I need to be a little more cautious when asking God for things! lol. Instead of the thump thump thump of a drum, my brain is filled with the swirling sound of twirlin' paper!

Well, twirl buddies, it's best I end this ramble and get back to the studio!

It's that time again! The annual North American Quilling Guild Conference is set and registration is open!

What's at the conference?

Classes! Tons of classes. Learn or perfect tons of techniques. Last year I even taught a class on framing!

Vendors! With tons of quilling supplies! Like me...I'll have Lake City Craft papers! Pre-send me your order and I'll bring it along for pickup!

Like minded people! Yep, an entire hotel filled with ....wait for it....QUILLERS!!! I now have quilling friends from all over the world. Canada. Puerto Rico. England. Even Japan!

Janet and her husband, Paul. from England.Janet is a published quiller and started JJ Qulling in England!

Me. My friend, Shelly, from South Bend, Indiana. And my friendLorrie, from Arvada, CO. I've quilled in BOTH of their homes!!

Freedom! For your family that is. lol. This year let your family give you a quilling conference for Mother's Day! Turns out the best hotel rates for Spring in Dallas is Mother's Day weekend! But don't worry. The event is over on Saturday evening so you can jump on a plane and head home first thing Sunday morning!